Tomkins has been unbelievable in defence since returning. It's probably been even better than his attack which still hasn't fully clicked.

With Hardaker out of sorts, it has to be Sam T surely? Bennett doesn't seem the type to go with a left-field choice like Shaul.

Anyway, as Wigg'n rightly says, Sam has been excellent in defence since his return.

The thing that stood out for me was how weak in the collision Hardaker was. Some of his other mistakes like being a bit slow to react can easily be picked up, but Hardaker is one of the more physical SL backs and yet looked way too lightweight. Eden and Joe Burgess similarly lack any kind of physical presence. Eden perhaps not surprising, but although Burgess is a reasonable size he gets rag-dolled too much.

They said in pre match Hardaker had put on 4 kg in a week - I expect if he did a pre season he'd add close to another 10 without losing sweat. I wouldn't be surprised if the Panthers do keep him on that basis TBH, as whilst he doesn't look strong enough ATM he's not afraid of the rough stuff and I think he can improve enough to be a very solid NRL player.

I was looking forward to Tomkins fading into obscurity but he is probably already a better all round payer than when he left.

Jordan Turner has signed for the Canberra Raiders.

Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g

Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g'" What has he got to lose. He will find a super league club after a year or two. He really has nothing to lose.

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"Jordan Turner is going to Canberra as a reserve centre to Croker and Leilua. Is that smart? www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 8TfwHQLb6g'" What has he got to lose. He will find a super league club after a year or two. He really has nothing to lose.

Aye, anybody slating his defence hasnt watched him since he's been back. He's been sensational in that regard especially on his own line and has pulled off some fantastic try savers. He's also been solid as a rock under the high ball.

He's a different player to the one who left. Some things aren't quite as good but other areas of his game are light years ahead.

No doubt sam has lost a yard of pace with his injuries. He is still a very good olayerand like you say defensively he has come back a better player.

True, I think with Hardaker having a difficult year it is an easy selection here for Bennett.

Tomkins has to play full-back now, he is in a different class to everyone else who could play there.
He has returned from Australia an even better player. The only concern is his fragility, but when he is fit there is nobody better.

If Lomax carries on playing as he has been doing, he'll be up there with Tomkins. However, I wouldn't want him in the England set up, I'd rather him have a full off season with the Saints to see how his body is.

I see Widdop was outstanding again at the weekend...... For the Titans that is.....

If Dragons had any 2nd tier salary cap left to spend, I think he'd be dropped - as it is, they literally have no option but to keep playing him - but he's getting a hammering by everyone from fans, pundits and ex players. Creates nothing (for his own team anyway - he did throw a lovely intercept), kicking has been awful, and even his running game seems to have disappeared.

[u2017 England players in the NRL[/u:

Zachary Hardaker

......., Jack Reed, Jordan Turner, ......

Gareth Widdop
......,

.....,
Samuel Burgess, Eliot Whitehead
James Graham, Joshua Hodgson George Burgess,

[uInterchange[/u: Thomas Burgess,

I have excluded Lucas Burgess because he is not up to England national standard.

So there will be 10 England standard players in the NRL, with at least 7 (all the forwards plus Jack Reed) and possibly 8 (Widdop) as likely England selections.

That will require probably 9 Super League players to be added to the NRL stars to make up the England team.

Since when was Luke short for Lucas?

Incorrectly elongating names appears to be his "thing" as well as pretending to be French. It makes him quirky, he thinks. Makes him look a bit of a spatchcock if you ask me!

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"[u2017 England players in the NRL[/u: .'" www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 13898ee8ec Seems like Reed will be lucky to even play again never mind pull on an England Jersey unfortunately.

Quote ="JEAN CAPDOUZE"[u2017 England players in the NRL[/u: .'" www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 13898ee8ec Seems like Reed will be lucky to even play again never mind pull on an England Jersey unfortunately.

That article is only available to subscribers to the Courier Mail. Are you a subscriber? Could you please copy and paste the article?

I'm not a subscriber. Just type Jack Reed into Google and the article comes straight up, for which you can read it - this is it pretty much anyway -

JACK Reed faces a painful fight to avoid retirement with the veteran Broncos centre battling an arthritic shoulder that threatens to prematurely end his season.

Reed will miss the clash against Penrith at Suncorp Stadium and Broncos medicos admit they have no idea whether the British Test star will be seen again this year.

The 28-year-old is one of Brisbane’s most maligned players but Reed remains the most seasoned member of a relatively inexperienced Broncos three-quarter line.

The veteran of 129 NRL games was initially expected to miss four weeks after being a surprise withdrawal on the eve of Brisbane’s clash against Canberra last month.

Now the full extent of Reed’s injury woes have surfaced. The rugged centre has previously undergone four surgeries on his battered shoulders but not even a fifth operation can cure the arthritis causing pain in his right shoulder.


Reed has battled shoulder injuries for some time.
Broncos strength-and-conditioning coach Jeremy Hickmans said Reed plans to return this season, but can’t guarantee it.

“It could be two weeks, it could be two months, we really don’t know,” Hickmans said.

“It’s a toss of the coin.

“We really hope to see Jack back this year, but I really don’t know where he sits at the moment. He could turn up on Monday and be fantastic, but we might not see him for the rest of the year.

“Jack could have another surgery but that won’t fix the problem really because there’s some arthritic issues to deal with.”

Reed has been working overtime on rehabilitation during his time on the sidelines. The Bribie Island junior is off-contract next year but if he chooses to play on, either at the Broncos or in the English Super League, he faces playing through the pain barrier.

Despite carrying a shoulder injury into last year’s grand final, Reed underlined his toughness with an outstanding performance against the Cowboys in the decider.

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While Reed has battled shoulder problems for the past five years, Hickmans said he had not raised the prospect of quitting the NRL.

“I haven’t spoken about retirement with Jack,” he said. “I had some time in pre-season with him and his reconstruction went really well. He has never spoken to me about retirement.

“If he wasn’t a footy player, he’d probably do nothing for a year, which really isn’t an option for an NRL player.

“It’s a pain and a function thing which are pretty well linked. It’s a case of how much we can do with him and there is no set protocol as to what he can cope with in this situation.”

OH, YOU'RE NOT JOKING

Blake Austin the next player Bennett will try for to represent England

I don't see the Austin hype. People are talking about him for Origin, but although he's clearly talented, he's still very much a work in progress as far as I can see. An Aussie George Williams, if you will.

All that's happened with Austin, Hodkinson and the Morris twins is RL media identifying players who could qualify to play for England. There's no real evidence to suggest Bennett has discussed this with any of them.

Hardaker on the scoresheet for Penrith vs Brisbane. Poor defence to stop him, but credit all the same. Still looks a bit lightweight in the tackle though. Commentators reckon he's put on 5 kilos since arriving.